So what happens if my personality quiz (Where should you live in Austin?) places you in a neighborhood where the schools are less than stellar? Time to learn about other options. Technically AISD will let you transfer your kid – but it’s a hard route to go. Here are the transfer rules. Most of the best schools in town are frozen to transfers, so good luck with this approach.

You can then look into charter schools. Austin has several, and I particularly like Austin Discovery School in East Austin (hello, nature walks!). These schools have a lottery enrollment, so there’s no guarantee you can get your child in.

Austin also has Magnet Schools. I’m not sure on the enrollment policy on those – it’s probably best to check with each school. I know that McCallum High School has an arts program that’s not even listed on that page – so you might call the school district for more up-to-date information.

And last, but not least, Austin has private schools. I don’t know much about that world so I’m going to have to send you to Google for that one.